Awards for advancements in community health initiatives announced for the first time
University of Rochester Medical Center Honours Community Health Heroes
Last night, the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) celebrated the inaugural Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Awards. The event recognised individuals and organisations who have made significant contributions to community health in the greater Rochester region.
The awards were created by URMC to acknowledge outstanding work in research, education, clinical services, and outreach efforts. This year's recipients include faculty, staff, and community partners of URMC.
Dr. David Satcher, for whom the awards are named, expressed his deep honour. Satcher, a prominent American medical doctor and public health administrator, served as the 16th Surgeon General under President Bill Clinton. He later founded the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta to improve public health leadership and address health disparities.
Peter Szilagyi, M.D., M.P.H., professor and chief of the Division of General Pediatrics, was recognised for his 23 years of work in improving healthcare for underserved children. His efforts include a successful community-based program to reduce disparities in immunization rates.
Katrina Korfmacher, Ph.D., assistant professor and deputy director of the Community Outreach and Education Core of the Department of Environmental Medicine, was honoured for her decade-long work in reducing lead exposure for children in Monroe County. Her efforts culminated in the passage of a historic lead abatement ordinance in 2005.
New York State Senator Jim Alesi received an honorary award for his advocacy and support for outreach and health education programs aimed at underserved populations. Senator Alesi has secured funding for URMC's Healthy Living and Vida en Salud programs, a physical activity and health promotion program in the African American and Latino communities, and the Healthy Living Library, a unique educational community resource dedicated to health and wellness.
Mardy Sandler, L.M.S.W., chief social worker and clinical manager for Community Outreach at Strong Memorial Hospital, was recognised for her 34 years of work in improving the wellbeing of the community's families, women, and children. Her initiatives include the development of the Parent and Child Training Program (PACT) and Baby Love, home visit programs that have reduced infant mortality, premature births, low birth weight rates, and neonatal intensive care unit admission rates.
Nancy M. Bennett, M.D., director of the Center for Community Health, stated that the awardees are powerful role models and their programs are examples of what can be achieved through academic-community partnerships.
The Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine, founded by Dr. David Satcher himself, is the organization that created the Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Awards. These awards recognise community health improvement efforts aligned with Satcher's mission and public health legacy.
Bradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D., CEO of URMC, stated that Senator Alesi's efforts are making a difference and improving the health of the most vulnerable in the community.
In conclusion, the Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Awards serve as a testament to the remarkable work being done in the Rochester community to improve health outcomes for underserved populations. The awardees' dedication and commitment to their work set a powerful example for future generations of public health leaders.
